Buttonhole attachment for zigzag sewing machines



J. P. ENOS Feb. 18, 1964 BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWINGMACHINES e Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1959 lllllllllll INVENTOR.

John P Enos Fig.6.

Fig.7. BY

7; ziTTORNEY Feb. 18, 1964 J. P. ENOS 3,121,410

BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 1959 6Sheets-Sheet 2 89 94 80 INVENTOR.

John F? Enos Fig.4

2 ATTORNEY Feb. 18, 1964 J. P. ENOS 3,

BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 3, 1959 6Sheets-Sheet 3 [I j 54 INVENTOR.

John F. Enos BY W ATTORNEY Feb. 18, 1964 J. P. ENOS 3,121,410

BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed DeO. 3, 1959 6Sheets-Sheet 4 m 9 LI.

INVENTOR. John P. Enos 9 ATTORNEY Feb. 18, 1964 .J P. ENOS 3,121,410

BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5. 1959 6Sheets-Sheet 5 T." if. leo

INVENTOR.

John P. Enos Feb. 18, 1964 J. P. ENOS 3,121,410

BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. :5, 1959 sSheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. John P. Enos y ArroR/vEY United States Patent3,121,410 BUTTONHOLE ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES John P. Enos,983 Suburban Road, Union, NJ. Filed Dec. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 857,224 1Claim. (111. 112-77) This invention relates to work shifting attachmentsfor sewing machines, and more particularly, to an improved buttonholeattachment for use with sewing machines of the so-called zigzag or swingneedle type.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my United States patentapplication Serial No. 774,469, filed November 17, 1958, which is nowabandoned.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel attachment forshifting a work fabric in a closed path relatively to the vibratingneedle of a zigzag sewing machine for the production of predeterminedpatterns of stitches.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sewing machineattachment of simple and effective construction which is capable ofoperation with a zigzag sewing machine in the sewing of buttonholes andthe like at higher sewing speeds than have been heretofore attainable.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment forproducing unique darning stitches in conjunction with a zigzag sewingmachine having a bight controlling means which may be adjusted to reducethe bight of needle zigzag motion to zero and a neutral position controlaccessible for manual adjustment.

With the above and additional objects and advantages in View, as willhereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations,and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 represents a front elevational view of an attachmerit of thisinvention applied to a zigzag sewing machine,

FIG. 2 represents a top plan view of the attachment with the cover insection and the pattern rack removed,

FIG. 3 represents a right side elevational view of the attachment withthe cover illustrated in vertical cross section and with the lid closed,

FIG. 4 represents a left side elevational view of the attachment withthe cover illustrated in vertical cross section and with the lid opened,

FIG. 5 represents a bottom plan view of a pattern rack,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially alongline 6-6 of FIG. 2, illustrating the adjustable feed bar fulcrum pin,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially alongline 77 of FIG. 2, illustrating the mechanism by which the feed blade isshifted in a closed path,

FIG. 8 represents a exploded top plan view of the attachment frame andthe operating parts of the attachment,

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a zigzag sewing machine having anattachment of this invention applied thereto, 7

FIG. 10 represents an enlarged top plan view of the needle vibratingmechanism including the bight and neutral position controlling means ofthe sewing machine of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 represents a cross sectional view taken substantially along line-1111 of FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 represents a cross sectional view taken sub stantially alongline 12-12 of FIG. 9 with the machine frame illustrated in verticalcross section,

FIG. 13 represents a cross sectional view taken substantially along line1313 of FIG. 12,

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 inclusive represent diagrammatic views illustratingvarious positions of the mechanism disclosed essentially in FIG. 9, and

3,121,410 Patented Feb. 18, 1964 FIG. 17 illustrates a group of twooverlapping stitch tacks produced by the mechanism illustrated in FIG.9'.

Referring to the drawings, the work shifting attach ment 26 of thisinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as applied to a zigzag sewing machineindicated generally as 21. The attachment is secured by means of a thumbnut 22 to a presser bar 23 of the sewing machine carried in the bracketarm portion 24 of the sewing machine frame, and is adapted to clamp awork fabric in place on a feed cover plate 25 carried on the bed portion26 of the sewing machine frame. By means of an attachment drive lever 27which embraces a cylindrical boss 28 of the needle clamp 29 carried onthe sewing machine needle bar 30 the attachment, as will be hereinafterdescribed, is capable of shifting a work fabric in a closed pathrelatively to the needle 31. The needle bar 30 is operatively connectedwithin the bracket arm to two separate trains of mechanism, i.e., acrank mechanism 32 for imparting endwise work penetrating motion to saidneedle bar and a swinging bearing or gate member 33 for vibrating theneedle bar laterally to produce zigzag sewing. It will be understoodthat this invention is not limited to the specific type of zigzag sewingmachine illustrated in the drawings, but may be used with any known typeof zigzag sewing machine in which the needle bar is reciprocated endwiseand vibrated laterally to produce zigzag stitches.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 8, the work shifting attachment isassembled on an attachment frame 441 having a raised block 41 formedwith a seat 62 to accommodate the sewing machine presser bar. The block41 is formed with spaced upstanding ears 43 in which is journaled apivot stud 44 carried by the attachment drive lever 27. The pivot studis retained in the ears 43- by means of a headed screw 45. Rearwardly ofthe upstanding ears 43, the attachment frame is formed with a clearanceaperture 46 for the feed blade, indicated generally as 56. Fourupstanding posts 51 are formed on the attachment frame, the posts ateach side being spanned by rails 52.

The feed blade 50 is formed with a forward portion 53 havingbifurcations 54 between which is pivoted a work engaging foot 55. A rearportion 56 of the feed blade is offset upwardly and connected to theforward portion by a vertical portion 57. The feed blade is disposed onthe attachment frame with the rear portion 56 bearing upon the rails 52,the vertical portion 57 extending through the clearance aperture 46, andthe forward portion 53 extending beneath the attachment frame.

The feed blade is slidably pivoted to the attachment frame, that is,pivoted for swinging movement in the direction of the needle joggingmovement of the sewing machine, and slidable for movement in a directiontransversely of that of the needle jogging movement. The forward portion53 of the feed blade is formed with a slot 66 extending lengthwise ofthe feed blade. Extending lengthwise of the attachment frame 40 is aslot 61. The shouldered shank portion 62 of a fulcrum pin 63 extendsthrough both slots 66 and 61 to slidably pivot the feed blade to theframe. The fulcrum pin 63 is embraced by an angle bracket 64 by whichthe pin may be selectively positioned along the slot 61. One limb of theangle bracket abuts the floor of the attachment frame 40 while the otherlimb abuts a raised rib 65 providing a sidewall of the attachment frame.The rib 65 is formed with a slot 66 to accommodate a threaded stud 67extending from the angle bracket 64. A knurled nut 68 threaded on thestud 67 serves to clamp the angle bracket and thus the fulcrum pin 63 inselected position relatively to the attachment frame. The fulcrum pin ismaintained in the slots 60 and 61 and on the angle bracket 64 by meansof a beehive spring 69 held on the fulcrum pin by means of a nut 70.

The mechanism for shifting the feed blade is best illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8. Secured to the attachment frame between the posts 51 by means ofa fastening screw 80 is a composite bearing member, indicated generallyas 81, comprising a series of vertically stacked coaxially arrangedcylindrical portions. At the base of the bearing member 81, acylindrical bearing 82 is separated by a cylindrical flange 83 from acylindrical bearing 34. Rising from the cylindrical bearing 84 is a post85 surmounted by a guide. pin 86.

Journaled on the cylindrical bearing 32 between the attachment frame 41)and the flange 83 is a manual ratcheting lever 37 formed with a fingergrip 88 which extends beyond the attachment frame. The lever 87 isbiased into a retracted position against one of the upstanding posts 51of the frame by means of a spring 89 secured at one end to the lever andat the other end to the attachment frame. Pivoted on a bracket 90carried on the ratcheting lever 87 is a pawl 91 biased inwardly by aspring 92.

Journaled on the cylindrical bearing 84 above the flange 83 is a pawlcarrier 93 to which a pawl 94 is pivoted. The pawl 94 is biased inwardlyby a spring 95' acting between the pawl and the pawl carrier. A link 96loosely pivoted as at 97 to the pawl carrier is pivoted in turn at 98 tothe drive lever 27 such that the pawl carrier 92 will be oscillated intimed relation with the endwise reciprocation of the sewing machineneedle bar.

Journaled on the cylindrical post 85 is a ratchet wheel 101) formedintegrally with a small pinion 101. The ratchet wheel 1% is engaged bythe bifurcated arms 102 and 1tl3 of an arched leaf spring 104 secured tothe attachment frame and thus pressed firmly downwardly against the pawlcarrier 93. The pawl 91 on the manual ratcheting lever 87 and the pawl Mon the pawl carrier 93 are both disposed in operative engagement withthe ratchet wheel 1% and each is arranged to override the other inturning of the ratchet wheel in one direction, thus providing clutchmeans effective operatively to interconnect the oscillatory pawl carrier93 to the pinion 101 in only one direction of turning movement of thepawl carrier, the spring arms 1G2 and 183 serving to prevent retrogrademotion of the ratchet wheel.

The spring arm 103 is formed with an auxiliary finger 105 which,asillustrated in FIG. 2, is disposed in spaced relation to the peripheryof the ratchet wheel 106. The finger 105 is preferably arranged so as toforce the pawl 94 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 1% for aportion of the travel of the pawl. The linkage from the drive lever 27to the pawl carrier 93 may thus be proportioned to impart a large travelto the pawl 94 and the finger 105 will insure that only the requisitenumber of teeth of the ratchet wheel 1% are indexed at each needlepenetration. Variation in needle bar stroke between different sewingmachines is thus not critical, and shifting of the work will occur onlywhen the needle is at the top of its stroke and well out of the goodsbeing stitched.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the rear portion 56 of the feed blade 51? isformed with an aperture 11% adapted to accommodate, with clearance onall sides, the body portion 111 of a template indicated generally as 112and best illustrated in FIG. 5. The body portion of the template isformed with an endless groove 113 in the shape of the tack of stitchesto be formed. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the groove 113 may be made inthe shape of an eyelet end buttonhole. Encompassing the groove 113, andof the same general shape, is an endless rack 114 formed in thetemplate. A plurality of ears 115 are formed on the template extendingfrom the body portion 111 thereof and arranged to span the aperture 110to support the body portion of the template within the aperture.Depending pins 116 formed on two of the ears 115 seat in holes 117formed in the rear portion 56 of the feed blade to locate the templateaccurately in the aperture 110.

When the template 112 is properly positioned on the feed blade, thepinion 101 will be in mesh with the endless rack 114 of the template andthe guide, pin 86 of the bearing member 81 will be disposed in thegroove 113 of the template. The template may be readily removed andexchanged since the pinion 101 and guide pin 31 may be separated fromthe template and the guide pin 116 may be separated from the feed bladesimultaneously by a vertical movement of the template. The feed bladeaperture 111) is preferably formed with enlarged portions 124) at eachside to admit an operators finger tips at each side of the template forconvenient removal and replacement of templates.

The attachment frame 40 and the. actuating mechanism thereon is enclosedby a cover indicated as which is preferably made of sheet metal and issecured to the attachment frame by screws 131 and 132. The cover isformed with an opening 133 which exposes the template 112 in anyposition of the feed blade. The cover opening is fitted with a lid 134hinged at 135 to the cover and provided with pivoted keeper 136 whichmay be turned by means of a knob 137 to secure the lid in closedposition.

Secured inside the lid is a leaf spring 138 having a broad fiat freeextremity 139 adapted to bear downwardly on the template 112 when thelid is closed so as to constrain the template in place in the feed bladeand in operative engagement with the pinion ltll and the guide pin 86.

In operation, the feed blade and the work engaging foot 55 carriedthereby, will be shifted progressively in a closed path by the endwisereciprocation of the sewing machine needle bar by way of the pinion 10:1to which an increment of turning movement is imparted at each needle barstroke. Since both the pinion 1111 and the fulcrum pin 62 for the feedblade are fixed with respect to the frame during operation of theattachment, no stitch-by-stitch lateral vibration of the work engagingfoot is possible. The work engaging foot partakes only of progressivemovement about a closed path as determined by the shape of the endlessgroove 1'13 and rack 11% of the template 112, the zigzag stitches beingperformed and controlled solely by the sewing machine.

The fulcrum pin 62 may, however, be relocated toward and away from thestitching point on the attachment frame by the clamp nut 6-8 so as toprovide for an adjustment of the proportion of the tack of stitchesproduced with the attachment, that is, in the case of a buttonhole toprovide for an adjustment of the spacing between the stitches at eachside of the buttonhole. In operation, however, the fulcrum pin 62 issecured in one selected position relatively to the attachment frame.

The attachment of this invention may be used with a zigzag sewingmachine in which the pattern of zigzag stitches varie continuously so asto provide unique ornamental stitch groups on a larger scale than hasbeen hitherto possible with a zigzag sewing machine.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 8, the attachment is provided withan anti-flagging finger 140 formed integrally with a one piecevertically reciprocable member 141. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, themember 141 is formed with bifurcated arms 142, 143- to embrace ashouldered portion 144 of the pivot stud 44 for the drive lever 27. Thearm 14 2 is formed with an outturned lip. 145' which overlies a camsurface 146 formed on the drive lever 27 so that the anti-flaggingfinger 149 will be lifted from the work on each upstroke of the needlebar. The anti-flagging member 141 is also constrained to move verticallyon'a stud 147 secured vertically in the attachment frame, a spring 148confined on the stud 14W bears downwardly on the anti-flagging member toreturn the finger 146 to the work on the downstroke of the needle bar.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the attachment 2 0 of this invention is shownapplied to a zigzag sewing machine of the type disclosed in the UnitedStates Patent No. 2,862,-

468, December 2, 1958, to which reference may be had. This sewingmachine includes a pair of coaxially arranged handles 150 and 151 forcontrolling the axial position of a pair of cam followers 152 and 153respectively so that the cam followers may be positioned each intoengagement with a selected one of a plurality of cam disks 154 rotatablewith a sleeve 155 journaled in the sewing machine bracket arm or intoengagement with a selected one of a plurality of circular cam surfaces156, 157 or 158 formed on an annular member 159 carried concentricallyon the sleeve 155.

The cam followers 152 and 153 are adapted also to engage the front face160 of a motion integrating plate 161 which is pivotally supported ontrunnion pins 162 carried in a yoke 163 formed on a pitman 164 which asillustrated in FIG. is pivoted as at 165 to the swinging needle bar gate33.

Fixed in the yoke 163 is a spherical guide head 166 embraced in acylindrical guide aperture 167 formed in field selector member 168carried on the annular member 159. A handle 169 extends from the annularmember 157 outwardly through an aperture 170 in the machine frame wherethe handle 169 is accessible to the machine operator.

When the coaxial handles 150 and 151 are positioned as illustrated inFIG. 10, the cam followers 152 and 153 will be positioned in engagementwith the circular cam surfaces 156 and 158, respectively, of the annularmember 159. The cam followers 152 and 153 will not vibrate in thisposition of adjustment and, therefore, the bight or stitch-by-stitchzigzag motion of the sewing machine needle bar will be reduced to zero.

FIGS. 14, and 16, however, illustrate the effect upon the needle bar 30of movement of the handle 169 when the handles 150 and 151 arepositioned as illustrated in FIG. 9. Turning of the handle 169 willshift the neutral position of the needle bar between extreme left andright hand position thereof.

The work engaging foot 55 of the attachment 20, as is illustrated inFIG. 9, may be arranged opposite to an auxiliary feed cover plate 180which is secured onto the feed cover plate 25 regularly supplied on themachine and provides a larger surface in opposition to the work engagingfoot of the attachment. Since the attachment provides an orbital motionto the work engaging foot 55 in a closed circuitous path with nostitch-by-stich zigzag motion, and the sewing machine is adjusted suchthat no Zigzag motion is imparted to the needle, the attachment willshift the work in a closed buttonhole shaped path when the machine isoperated.

If the handle 169 is initially positioned in one extreme position ofadjustment and then gradually adjusted by the operator to the oppositeextreme position of adjustment in regular increments preferably oneincrement during each orbital cycle of motion of the work engaging footof the attachment, the result will be a tightly packed scroll or spiraltack of stitches. As illustrated in FIG. 17, this type of stitch tack,which may be made effortlessly and quickly by the method abovedescribed, is particularly suited to darning and embroidery work. Sincethe stitches of the spiral group may be made with perfect alignment andwith particularly even spacing, smooth flat darning and embroidery workmay be performed with this arrangement. The parallel lines of stitchesmade in any one stitching operation may be locked together bysuperimposing a succeeding tack at right angles thereon. The maximumwidth of any one darning or embroidery tack made as described above isthe combined width of the orbital path of motion of the attachment 20plus the total range of neutral position of the sewing machine needle.The length of any one particular darning or embroidery tack will dependupon the size of the template 112 which is inserted in the attachment.The tacks may be combined of course one alongside the other to fill anydesired space.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:

In an attachment for a sewing machine having an endwise reciprocatoryand laterally jogging needle, an attachment frame, means for securingsaid attachment frame to said sewing machine, attachment actuating meanscarried on said attachment frame and adapted to be operated by saidsewing machine, said attachment actuating means including a pinion,means for journaling said pinion on an axis fixed directly in saidattachment frame, and means for imparting step-by-step rotary motion tosaid pinion, a feed blade, a work engaging foot carried by said feedblade, an endless rack, means for securing said rack in fixed positionon said feed blade and in mesh with said pinion, and means slidablypivoting said feed blade with respect to said attachment frame, saidmeans including a fulcrum pin, said feed blade being formed with anelongated slot disposed embracing said fulcrum pin, and means forsecuring said fulcrum pin to said attachment frame on an axis in fixedspaced relation relatively to the axis of said pinion at any selectedone of a range of distances from the axis of said pinion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,362,272 Stern Dec. 14, 1920 1,958,207 Scheibel et al May 8, 19342,619,925 Sharenow et al Dec. 2, 1952 2,649,063 Russell Aug. 18, 19532,669,202 Enos Feb. 16, 1954 2,788,757 Enos Apr. 16, 1957 2,804,035Baehr et al Aug. 27, 1957 2,813,501 Shotsky Nov. 19, 1957 2,849,972Wurker Sept. 2, 1958 2,894,467 Thomas July 14, 1959 2,900,938 JohnsonAug. 25, 1959 2,907,290 Burgess et a1. Oct. 6, 1959 2,927,547 Enos Mar.8, 1960 2,944,497 Waterman July 12, 1960

